Expression profiles of the extracellular matrix-associated genes during rat liver regeneration

To investigate the effect of signal molecules and their receptor-associated genes on rat liver regeneration (LR) at the transcriptional level, the associated genes were originally obtained by retrieving the databases and related scientific publications; their expression profiles in rat LR were then checked using the Rat Genome 230 2.0 microarray. The LR-associated genes were identified by comparing gene expression difference between partial hepatectomy groups and operation-control groups. A total of 454 genes were proved to be LR related. The genes associated with the seven kinds of signal molecules (steroid hormones, fatty acid derivatives, protein and polypeptide hormones, amino acids and their derivatives, choline, cytokines, and gas signal molecules) were detected to be enriched in a cluster characterized by upregulated expression in LR. The number of genes related to the seven kinds of signal molecules was, in sequence, 63, 27, 100, 102, 16, 166, and 18. The 1027 frequencies of upregulation and 823 frequencies of downregulation in total as well as 42 types of different expression patterns suggest the complex and diverse gene expression changes in LR. It is presumed that signal molecules played an important role in metabolism, inflammation, cell proliferation, growth and differentiation, etc., during rat LR.

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Expression profiles uncover the relationship between erythropoietin and cell proliferation in rat hepatocytes after a partial hepatectomy

Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters ◽

10.2478/s11658-014-0198-0 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jihong Zhang ◽

Yajuan Yang ◽

Tingting He ◽

Yunqing Liu ◽

Yun Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Proliferation ◽

Liver Regeneration ◽

Signaling Pathway ◽

Partial Hepatectomy ◽

Rat Liver ◽

Target Genes ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Synergetic Effect ◽

Rat Liver Regeneration ◽

Percoll Density Gradient Centrifugation

AbstractErythropoietin (EPO) has a beneficial effect on hepatic cell proliferation during liver regeneration. However, the underlying mechanism has not yet been elucidated. To uncover the proliferation response of EPO in rat liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (PH) at the cellular level, hepatocytes (HCs) were isolated using Percoll density gradient centrifugation. The genes of the EPO-mediated signaling pathway and the target genes of the transcription factor (TF) in the pathway were identified in a pathway and TF database search. Their expression profiles were then detected using Rat Genome 230 2.0 Microarray. The results indicated that the EPO-mediated signaling pathway is involved in 19 paths and that 124 genes participate, of which 32 showed significant changes and could be identified as liver regeneration-related genes. In addition, 443 targets regulated by the TFs of the pathway and 60 genes associated with cell proliferation were contained in the array. Subsequently, the synergetic effect of these genes in liver regeneration was analyzed using the E(t) mathematical model based on their expression profiles. The results demonstrated that the E(t) values of paths 3, 8, 12 and 14–17 were significantly strengthened in the progressing phase of liver regeneration through the RAS/MEK/ERK or PI3K/AκT pathways. The synergetic effect of the target genes, in parallel with target-related cell proliferation, was also enhanced 12–72 h after PH, suggesting a potential positive effect of EPO on HC proliferation during rat liver regeneration. These data imply that the EPO receptor may allow EPO to promote HC proliferation through paths 3, 8, 12 and 14–17, mediating the RAS/MEK/ERK and PI3K/AκT pathways in rat liver regeneration after PH.

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